Can you touch type?

[Slow.Patrol]

Not the two finger style, but proper touch typing with all fingers.

I wanted to be a music journalist when I was a kid and my Mum took it upon herself to teach me how to touch type (she was a shorthand secretary). One of the best things I ever learnt.

Nowadays a lot is done on the phone, however my nephew was impressed with the speed I can punch out a message.

I am retired now, but I used to observe others in the office and wondered if they would end up with RSI in later life from only using a few fingers.

[dundarach]

Yes

I'm old and have an RSA qualification in it too. (I took it as the class at 6th form was full of girls and me)

[John D.]

I can. Self taught. It's just muscle memory.

[AlexGSi2000]

Yes, although probably not the "official way".

Think it developed when I was in high-school, distinctly remember doing History coursework and seeing if I could continue typing without looking at the keyboard.

[Alex9]

I can to an extent, until i realise I'm doing it then I just forget where all the letters are!

[48k]

I can't touch type but I can type without looking at the keyboard. As a software developer its kinda handy.

[Scabutz]

Yep. Worked as a software engineer for years and you really should be able to as one. Its like riding a bike and now in management can still type fast without looking ,and its accurate.

[geeks]

Yes was taught the official way by my Grandmother years ago who up until recently could still beat me on speed and accuracy and I was considered one of the better typers when on the helpdesk years ago. I was one of those annoying pricks would look at someone talking to me while still typing

[Mr Penguin]

Yes, but I have to look at the keyboard for the first couple of letters and then can look up at the screen.

[BoRED S2upid]

Sort of. I’m not consciously thinking where the letters are I’m sure I’m not doing it as I should but it works.

[lizardbrain]

It should be taught at school, it's one of the more useful skills. It's weird how unconscious it is. I don't think I could draw out a keyboard, but havn't looked at one for years.

Important to never look at the keyboard when learning. And never vary which finger hits each key

If you have to look at the keys to get your bearing you can't touch type. This is what the home key dents on F and J are for

[mikef]

Yes, at school as a punishment I got sent across the road for a term to the girls’ grammar school for typing lessons

Can’t remember what I was being disciplined for, but it’s one of the most useful skills I ever acquired

[98elise]

48k said:

I can't touch type but I can type without looking at the keyboard. As a software developer its kinda handy.

Similarly I worked in IT for 20 years (3rd Line Support, then BA) so I can type at speed without looking at the keyboard. Probably not in the way a touch typist would, but it works for me.

[vixen1700]

Used to be able to.

My father 'punished' young punk rocker me by sending me to a typing class up the road after being arrested for being drunk and incapable, underage at the Hyde Park CND rally when I was 14.

Never touched Bacardi again.

[RJO]

Yes, my second real job included the need to send telegrams. Remember them?

[P-Jay]

Yah but im nooot great it

[AndySheff]

48k said:

I can't touch type but I can type without looking at the keyboard. As a software developer its kinda handy.

I worked with a couple of nerdy blokes that had completely blank keyboards !
I didn't have a chance of using them, especially not when special characters like *?% etc are not visible. Otherwsie I type pretty fast after a lifetime working in IT.

[Slow.Patrol]

RJO said:

Yes, my second real job included the need to send telegrams. Remember them?

I had to use one of these.



I got a summer job for a company that traded internationally with countries such as India.

They were an absolute bh as you needed to be 100% accurate

[JQ]

I'm early 50's and learnt at school - a City and Guild if I'm not mistaken. Touch type every day.

[towser44]

Yep, self taught after 20+ years sat at a PC or laptop for 8-10 hours a day. Definitely muscle memory, as I gave up Office work 4 years ago and can still touch type when I go on my personal laptop without thinking about it!